Rail-joint.



' Joint, of

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Y ANDREW MORRISON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

Application iiled March 13. 1907. Serial No. 362,101.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW MORRISON, of Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Rail hich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of a rail joint embodying my invention; and Fig. 2 is a detail view showing a modification.

My invention has relation to rail joints, and more particularly to that class of rail joints in which a base plate extending underneath the entire base width of the rail and integral with one of the splice or angle bars, is employed.

The object of my invention is to provide a rail joint of this character, in which the free edge portion of the base plate is supported by means of the splice or angle bar at the other side of the joint, so that it is enabled to carry the load even though not supported by the tie; also to provide a joint of this character, in which provision is made for adjustment of the splice or angle bars to take up wear of the parts, and also irregularities in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing,

the numeral 2 designates the T-rail, 3 a splice or angle bar having a bearing at 4 against the under side of the head of the rail, and a bearing at 5 against the upper surface of the base flange of the rail. The bar 3 is provided with the base plate 6, which extends entirely across underneath the base of the rail and beyond the edge of the opposite base liange of the rail, its free edge portion having the upward bend 7 and terminating in the horizontal lip or extension 8 whose upper surface is above the plane of the bottom of the rail base.

9 designates the bar at the opposite side of the rail having a bearing at 10 on the under side of the head and an extended bearing at 11 upon the base of .the rail to a point at or near its edge, from which point it is extended laterally in a substantially horizontal direction, and its free edge is rolled or bent downwardly and around to form a space or slot 12 to receive the lip or 55 extension 8 of the base-plate 6.

1 preferably make the bearing area at 5 substantially equal to that at 4, so that the wear at these points will come upon substantially equal areas, and will be substantially equal, Below the bearing 5 a clear- -ance space 13 is provided, which permits of a horizontal adjustment of the bar 3 for the purpose of taking up the wear which may occur. To permit adjustment, a clearance space is also provided at 14 between the edge of the rail base and the inner line of the curve 7. A space is also provided between the outer edge of the lipl'or extension 8 and the wall of the slot or opening 12 in which it seats to permit adjustment. The clearance spaces at 13 and 14 also provide for irregularities in the sections of the bars in assembling them, so that a good initial fit is always insured. The slot or opening at 12 is preferably made somewhat larger than the thickness of the lip 8, so as to provide a clearance space at 15. This, however, is not essential, and a close iit may be made at the point 15 if desired. The curve or offset at 7 is provided in order to enable the joint plates to be applied without unduly strainting the base 6 or its connection with the bar 3. The oint as thus constructed is capable of being assembled without undue strains at an point. 1t will also be noted that spaces are left at the inner sides of the bars 3 and 9 for the purposes of adjustment before referred to. i

The angle bars are connected by the usual through-bolts 16, and the joint is secured to the ties by means of the spikes at each side of the rail base, one set of spikes being driven through the inclosed holes 17, while the other set are preferably driven through the open edge slots 18.

While 1 preferably make the base of bar 9 as shown and described for the support of the lip 8, 1 do not conne myself to that particular design, and may roll an extended base flange 19 thereto similar to that on bar 3 and punch slot holes for spikes opening on its outer edge asshown in Fig. 2.

While, as above described, I prefer to make the bearing area at the points 4 and 5, substantially equal, yet this is not essential to my invention, and if preferred a close bearing may be provided for the inclined portion of the bar 3 in the same manner as shown for the bearing 11. Neither do 1 confine myself to a close bearing for the bar 9 at 11, but this bearing may be similar to that of the bar 3 at 5, as shown at 20 in Fig. 2.

The advantages ofmy invention result from the construction and arrangement described, whereby the integral base plate is supported at the free end. This also enables the base plate to be made thinner and lighter than has heretofore been possible. This not only results in a saving of the metal, but it also tends to lessen the anvil elf-lect of said plate, which is present where a heavy plate is employed, by reason of the pounding of the wheels in passing over the joint. A further advantage results, as above explained, from the construction by which the entire joint can be assembled without undue strains, and is made capable of adjustment to take up the wear and also to take care of irregularities in manufacture.

Various changes may be made in the form and section of the angle or splice bars, and in many details of construction and arrangement, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, since What I claim is 1. In a rail joint, a splice bar having a base portion extending underneath the entire base of the rail and terminating at its free edge in a raised lip or extension, which engages and is supported by the opposite splice bar, said lip or extension being joined to the base by a connecting portion having a clearance space between its entire upper surface and the adjacent edge of the rail; substantially as described.

2. A rail joint having a pair of splice bars, one of which has a base plate extending entirely underneath the base of the rail, said base plate having at its free edge a raised lip or extension extending entirely beyond and clear of the rail, and the other bar having an extension to receive and support said lip, the lip being capable of horizontal movement in its support for the purpose of taking care of irregularity in manufacture and adjustment for wear; substantially as described.

3. In a rail joint, a splice bar having a base plate extending underneath the base of the rail and beyond the opposite edge of the same, and supported by the opposite splice bar, the first-named bar having clearance spaces at both edges of the rail base and also at the extreme end of the base plate; substantially as described.

4. A rail joint, consisting of a pair of splice bars having vertical portions provided with bearings against both the head and the base of the rail, one of said bars having a base portion extending underneath the base ofthe rail and supported at its free edge at a point beyond the base oi the rail by the other bar, the first named bar being capable of horizontal adjustment; substantially as described.

5. A rail oint consisting of a pair of splice bars7 one of which has a base plate extending underneath the rail base and supported at its free edge by the depending portion of the other bar at a point beyond the base of the rail, the first named horizontal adjustment; substantially as described.

6. In a rail oint, a splice bar having a rail iitting portion having substantially equal bearing area upon both the head and the base of the rail and also having a base portion extending underneath the entire base of the rail and terminating at its free edge in a raised lip or extension which engages and is supported by the opposite splice bar, said lip or extension being joined to the base by a connecting portion having a clearance space between its entire upper surface and the adjacent edge oi the rail, and a further clearance space being provided between the edge of said lip and the adjacent portion of the opposite splice bar; substantially as described.

7. In a rail joint, a splice bar having a base plate extending underneath the base of the rail and beyond the opposite edge of the same, and terminating in a raised free edge portion, and an opposite splice bar having its lower portion bent to engage and support said raised free edge portion of the other bar, with a clearance space between the vertical side of said edge portion and the adjacent vertical portion of the said support substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ANDREW MORRISON.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. PARMELEE, H. M. CoRwrN.

bar being capable olf' 

